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Sunday, July 21, 2019

Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson

Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson was originally considered a "boy's book” when first published in 1886. Since then, the novel has garnered enormous popularity throughout the world. Though many people seem to have read this in school, this was the first time for me. I found that this work deserves all the accolades that it has received. This was a very entertaining and fun book that also displayed substance.

The work is a historical novel that takes place in 1751. Several characters are real historical persons, and some of the plot is based upon real events. The book’s protagonist is 17-year-oldDavid Balfour, who tells the tale in first person. Balfour is a resident of the Scottish Lowlands. When Balfour’s father dies, he sets off to find his place in the world. The young man visits his uncle, Ebenezer Balfour. Ebenezer turns out to be a wretched schemer who, in order to avoid passing on the family fortune and lands, plots to have David kidnapped and sold into slavery. When the ship that is carrying Balfour to servitude picks up the real-life historic person and Scottish rebel Alan Breck Stewart, the pair form an alliance and fight the crew for control of the ship. Eventually, the vessel is wrecked, and Balfour begins a set of adventures in the Scottish Highlands.

At this point, though Balfour has nothing to do with it, Alan and himself are implicated in the assassination of a corrupt and repressive royal official called the Red Fox. This killing is based upon the real-life historical event known asthe Appin murder.The remainder of the book involves Balfour and Alan fleeing through the Scottish Highlands while being pursued by British Troops.

This short novel works on many levels. I found it to be a wonderfully written adventure story. Almost every page was fun and enjoyable. There are also some interesting things going on with characters and themes. Alan is a flawed but absolutely wonderful character. He is roguish, vain, and sentimental. He can be dishonest, loves to brag, and has a sense of honor that is both noble and a little silly. He has a personal code of morals that often comes into conflict with David’s conventional Christian beliefs. He is incredibly brave and resilient. He is an expert swordsman but can also mix it up in musical bagpipe duels. He and Balfour often find themselves in conflict, but eventually form a bond that is akin the love between a father and son.

The issue of different moralities is interesting. At one point, Alan is talking about protecting the man who shot the Red Fox. He will sacrifice his own life to do so. When Balfour realizes this he observes,

Alan’s morals were all tail-first; but he was ready to give his life for them, such as they were. “Alan,” said I, “I’ll not say it’s the good Christianity as I understand it, but it’s good enough

Balfour is a Christian. Alan is something else. It seems that while Stevenson might not be completely on board with Alan's morals, he is not entirely condemning them either.

This is the third Stevenson book that I have read. I have also read Dr. Jekyll and Mister Hyde as well as Treasure Island. I had previously written how the author has a certain knack for describing nature and integrating the descriptions into the plot. I found that this skill was apparent in this book. One stage of this tale involves Balfour and Allen traversing through the Scottish countryside during a very rainy period where both men are gloomy due to circumstances.

This was a dreadful time, rendered the more dreadful by the gloom of the weather and the country. I was never warm; my teeth chattered in my head; I was troubled with a very sore throat, such as I had on the isle…I would be aroused in the gloaming, to sit up in the same puddle where I had slept, and sup cold drammach; the rain driving sharp in my face or running down my back in icy trickles; the mist enfolding us like as in a gloomy chamber— or, perhaps, if the wind blew, falling suddenly apart and showing us the gulf of some dark valley where the streams were crying aloud. The sound of an infinite number of rivers came up from all round. In this steady rain the springs of the mountain were broken up; every glen gushed water like a cistern; every stream was in high spate, and had filled and overflowed its channel. During our night tramps, it was solemn to hear the voice of them below in the valleys, now booming like thunder, now with an angry cry. I could well understand the story of the Water Kelpie, that demon of the streams, who is fabled to keep wailing and roaring at the ford until the coming of the doomed traveller.

There is a lot to the above quote. One can feel the misery of sleeping outdoors in the rain and the cold. Stevenson personalizes nature in an effective way as the streams and thunder are described as crying. I think that the above also creates a very powerful atmosphere of a waterlogged and flooding landscape. The introduction of the myth of the Water Kelpie adds to an effective impression of a personalized and not so friendly natural world.

I loved this book. Though originally a kind of young adult story designed for boys, Stevenson has infused so many good things into this work. It can just be read for fun, but the reader can also go a little deeper and discover some rewards, I think that this one deserves the popularity that it has garnered as well as its reputation as a classic.

43 comments:

Brian, fantastic review and I'm so glad you enjoyed this! I love David and Alan and how their friendship overcomes their differences. It's one of the few novels I've read several times and will keep rereading.

This is my favourite book by Stevenson. Did you know there's a sequel to it? It's published as 'David Balfour' in the USA but as 'Catriona' elsewhere. It does contain A LOT of Scottish slang, though, which if you're not familiar with, makes for slow reading.

Nice to see you take a break from the philosophy books and read something for fun! �� It’s not for nothing that so many of his books were dramatised(this one by Disney). I’m currently reading Treasure Island.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. It doesn't matter what age you are when you come to Kidnapped, it's still a great story.

By coincidence, I've just been dipping into 'Bitten by the Tarantula and Other Writing', a big collection of pieces by the British writer Julian Maclaren-Ross. One of the sections contains a series of essays on writers, book reviews and other literary topics, including a piece on R. L. Stevenson.

Hi Jacqui- I seem to have come to many classics that are enjoyed while young late. Either way it is true, books like this are worth it at any age. I have read a little commentary on Stevenson myself lately. He was an interesting writer who seems to have gone in and out of fashion with the critics.

You know, Brian, I've never really wanted to read this book, but you have changed my mind completely. I love the quotes you've given - love "tail-first" morals! I didn't realise it was an historical novel either, or based on some real characters.

I'm not sure I ever will read it - as I can just see the years disappearing before me - but if the opportunity every arises I won't back off!

Another great review! This was among my pre-teen reading along with Treasure Island. They instilled in me a love for Stevenson and reading in general. I would group these along with Robinson Crusoe among the formative novels of my youth.

Hi Brian, Great review and I do want to give Kidnapped a try. I see what you mean about Stevenson working nature into his stories with very good effect. As you say one can really feel the cold and the damp. Stevenson was born in Scotland and I think for many Scots that period around the 1750's lives on even today with the moniseries Outlander. Sounds like the fight for Scottish independence meant alot to Stevenson as well.

It has been decades since reading Stevenson's books. Time to pick up this one again. He captured that time so well. The Scottish dialect and slang took me time way back then. Now, maybe it will flow easier.

Thanks for bringing this book up! Have you ever watched "Shetland"?

I don't know why, but this brings to mind Huck Finn. I'll figure it out eventually.

Greetings, I came across your blog through Judy @ Keep The Wisdom's blog!

Nice review of Kiddnaped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I haven't read any of Robert Lewis Stevenson's novels, however, I have Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on my list of books to read.

As an interesting side note, I visited Monterey, California in 2013 and was surprised to discover that Robert Louis Stevenson lived in Monterey, California for three and a half months during 1879. The hotel he stayed in is still standing and is part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation... The former hotel is now called the Stevenson House and is a beautiful place to visit should you ever visit Monterey, California.

I blogged about my experience visiting the Stevenson House and included photographs of the building's exterior and grounds should you have any interest in seeing what this historical place looks like. https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/search?q=stevenson+house

Yeah an adventure tale in the Scottish Highlands sounds fun to me. Somehow I have not read Stevenson but I once studied his life in the South Pacific ... his health was poor and he went there to escape. He seems to have had quite a life on the seas.

Hi Brian, I’ve read Catriona & didn’t think it was as good as Kidnapped. I wrote about it here:https://journey-and-destination.blogspot.com/2018/10/catriona-by-robert-louis-stevenson-1893_13.htmlHowever, it’s one of my daughter’s favourite books which surprised me as it’s not an easy read with all its Scots dialect. I think if you read it while Kidnapped is still fresh in your Ming it would make it a lot easier.

I started to read this as a 12 year-old, and remember being put off by the absence of female characters. But after reading your review, it sounds like it might be time to give this classic adventure story another read. The bromance in it sounds very well done.

Definitely one of my favorites, which I've read 2 maybe 3 times and would like to reread. Your quote is spot on, and Stevenson is a master at creating memorable scenes. I will always remember when David nearly steps into thin air at the House of Shaws.

I've been meaning for years to read up on RLS's time in California and maybe retrace some of his steps.